A surprisingly poor tennis match: A 'wildcard' player made 20 errors and lost after 37 minutes.

The tournament organizers later had to admit that this player should not have been allowed to compete.

According to the BBC, 21-year-old Hajar Abdelkader, introduced as an Egyptian player, lost both sets 0-6 to German opponent Lorena Schaedel in the first-round match held in Nairobi on January 7. Abdelkader committed 20 double faults and scored only three points throughout the 37-minute match.

This performance led many viewers to question the young player's skill level and competitive experience.

The match was part of the ITF W35 tournament organized by the Kenya Tennis Federation (ITF Kenya), the governing body for tennis in the country.

ITF Kenya stated that they have contacted both Abdelkader and Schaedel to offer support amid the significant media and public attention. The federation confirmed that Abdelkader was given a last-minute wildcard after another player withdrew, to maintain the number of participants and ensure national diversity in the event.

However, ITF Kenya acknowledged that, upon review, allowing Abdelkader to compete was an inappropriate decision.

“The federation will learn from this incident and ensure that a similar situation does not happen again,” the organization said in a statement.

ITF Kenya also emphasized its commitment to fairness, transparency, and integrity in its tournaments, affirming its goal to develop tennis in Kenya, East Africa, and across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Tennis Federation confirmed to the BBC that Abdelkader has never been registered as an athlete representing Egypt nor authorized to compete on its behalf.

The Technical Director of the Egyptian Tennis Federation, Dia Nabil Loutfy, stated: “We want to clarify that she is not registered with the Egyptian Tennis Federation and does not appear on any of our official player lists.”

According to the Egyptian Tennis Federation, Abdelkader previously lived in Kenya and entered the ITF tournament in Nairobi via a wildcard granted by the Kenya Tennis Federation. The Egyptian Federation asserted that it had no direct or indirect involvement in nominating, approving, or issuing this wildcard and that it has no records or connections with the player in question.